In her opening remarks at a reception on Capitol Hill February 26, BU President Melissa L. Gilliam highlighted the important work that comes from the partnership between the federal government and universities. Photo by Stephen Gosling Photography

University News

During D.C. Visit, President Gilliam Underscores Critical Partnership Between Government and Universities in Advancing Scientific Research

Her day included meetings with elected officials, their staff, and BU alumni and students

Speaking to a tightly packed room in the shadow of the United States Capitol Wednesday evening, Boston University President Melissa L. Gilliam asked her audience of nearly 150—alumni, congressional staff members, and BU students—to indulge her with a walk back in time.

At the event, organized by BU Federal Relations, Gilliam shared that 80 years ago, during the summer of 1945, a 34-page report landed on the desk of President Harry Truman. It was written by an American engineer named Vannevar Bush, who led an agency called the United States Office of Scientific Research and Development. His report, titled “Science, the Endless Frontier,” would help to shape the lives of generations to come.

President Franklin Roosevelt had requested the report as he saw the end of World War II nearing—in large part because of the scientific research coming out of the nation’s colleges and universities. Roosevelt had asked Bush to explore how the government could build upon that work and discover and develop “scientific talent in American youth” to grow the research that had proved so critical to winning the war.

Bush came back with an answer: a permanent partnership between universities and the federal government to conduct important research that would benefit the country.

“This was a really bold idea, for the government to work hand in hand with the universities and have professors around the country hard at work, solving America’s most pressing problems,” Gilliam said. She then used a few relatable examples to illustrate the impact of Bush’s report: “The moon landing, that phone in your pocket, the COVID vaccine, all are thanks to the partnership between government and universities.”

As she finished telling the story, Gilliam smiled and lightly clapped, prompting everyone in the room at the Rayburn House Office Building to join her. She then specifically looked at the room’s 17 smiling students from the BU Study Away Washington D.C. Internship Program, including Candace Guthrie (COM’26), who had introduced her, and said, “You inspire me each and every day.”

The BU in DC event was an opportunity for Gilliam, an esteemed physician and public health researcher who became BU’s 11th president in 2024, to meet with alumni in Washington, some who work for government agencies, the media, and in private industry and others who work for senators and representatives on Capitol Hill. Rep. Lois Frankel (CAS’70) (D-Fla.) attended the event, and earlier in the day, Gilliam met with Rep. Jen Kiggans (Pardee’93) (R-Va.). She also met with Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio).

Gilliam’s day in D.C. came as the Trump administration has ramped up attacks on higher education, demanded universities shutter programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and argued that institutions should use their endowments to cover more of their research. His administration’s proposal to reduce National Institutes of Health funding for some facilities and administrative costs and potentially reduce spending on medical research by $4 billion a year has been held up by a federal court after a lawsuit filed by major research centers and university associations argued that the funding cut would “devastate medical research at America’s universities.”

After speaking with Gilliam, Frankel, who sits on the House Committee on Appropriations, said it’s the research from universities like BU that “keeps people healthy and alive.” She said she remains confident in the outcome of the research battle unfolding in Washington. “To do my job, you have to be an optimist,” Frankel said.

Other alumni at the event included Michelle Ortega (CAS’14), who works as the policy counsel for House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and Bayley Connors (CAS’20), legislative assistant to Rep. Ayanna Pressley (Hon.’21) (D-Mass.). Speaking for herself as a BU alum, Ortega said, “It’s essential that the research that universities do continues.” She mentioned the brain research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy being done by the BU CTE Center as an example of the important work happening at universities that impacts lives. “Government can’t do all of it,” she said.

For the BU alumni and students at the event, a visit from their University’s new president was both exciting, and appreciated. “I love having the president of BU come to Washington,” said Tom Lehrich (Questrom’87), a lawyer who has been chief counsel to the U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general and has served on the Federal Bar Association governing committee. “I’m incredibly interested in talking to her.”

Dorothy Davis (COM’76), whose career has spanned radio, public relations, diplomacy, and speech writing and who now runs her own consulting firm, enjoyed a lengthy chat with Gilliam. “Her visit is extremely important to me in this environment,” said Davis, who came to Boston last fall to attend Gilliam’s inauguration. “I really hope she calls on her alumni for help. Lean on us!”

One of the new cochairs of BU’s Washington alumni network, Krishna Gall (CAS’16, Pardee’16), a wealth strategy associate for UBS, said Gilliam’s visit during these times was important. “It’s an interesting moment politically,” he said.

Nahomi Brea Rivera (CAS’25) and Daniela Torres (CGS’24, Pardee’26), both part of the BU Study Away Washington DC Internship Program, wore bright, beaming smiles after meeting Gilliam and having a group picture taken with her. “For me, being a woman of color and having that representation, I’m so grateful,” Rivera said. “Being able to attend something like this has a lot of value to me.” Torres added, “We’re all united because we care about what happens in the world.”

It was a message Gilliam referenced in her own speech.

Referring to an initiative she recently launched at BU, called “Living Our Values,” she said the University remains committed to its “foundational values” of free speech and open and civil dialogue. And in a reference to the rising costs of a college education, she said BU continues to invest “significantly in access and affordability.” She noted that more than 20 percent of BU students are first-generation students in their families and that one in five BU students is a Pell Grant recipient. 

“Our goal,” Gilliam said, “is to set our students up for success so they can graduate on time and enter the workforce to address the important challenges of today.”